Pell Grant Eligibility

Pell Grant Eligibility

The pell grant is a highly coveted financial aid award that does not have to be paid back. To determine your pell grant eligibilityyou must complete the FAFSA application. To complete the FAFSA, visit the government site http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Be sure to read the Free Application for Federal Student Aid directions before completing it. Incorrectly completing the FAFSA can be a very expensive mistake, as it can cause you to lose some or all of your award and lose your pell grant eligibility.
Once you fill out the FAFSA form, the federal government will determine your expected family contribution also known as EFC. Once your EFC is calculated, your pell grant eligibility can be determined. Typically, students with a family income of less than $50k will have pell grant eligibility. If your family income is under $20k it is likely you’ll receive the full pell grant award.
Pell grant eligibilityis also contingent upon you being an American citizen, or a conditional alien with an I-551C card. You must also have Arrival Departure Record I-94 by the department of Immigration and naturalization Service.

Pell Grant Eligibility Application Process

Your must reapply every year for the grant by submitting your updated FAFSA form. The amount you receive from the Pell grant can vary from year to year. This variance in the award is a reflection of any changes to the family’s income or assets.
To receive the Pell grant you need to be enrolled in an accredited program. In addition to being enrolled in an accredited program there are other requirements not listed above. It is recommended that you visit the site listed above for the full list of the eligibility requirements.
Each year when reapplying for the grant be sure to review the pell grant eligibility requirements as they are subject to change. It can be a good idea to consult a professional to determine if there are any strategies that you can implement to increase your Pell grant award.

Pell Grant Eligibility and Scholarships

It is conceivable that you might be able to redistribute some of your assets, which could increase your eligibility. College is expensive and you want to be certain to take advantage of all the free money that you can. Don't overlook other forms of free money like scholarship or even very low interest student loans. Contact your guidance counselor as well as non profit organization in your community. Organization like the chamber of commerce and other such group sponsor scholarships for deserving student.
A final warning about the Pell grant that is very important to remember. Even if you do not receive the award your first year, don’t assume you aren’t eligible the subsequent years. Apply every year. The worst that can happen is you will not receive an award. The upside of course is you could save thousands of dollars on your college education if you have pell grant eligibility.

How Can You Get a Pell Grant for Education?

How can you get a Pell Grant for education? The Pell refers to federally provided money that can help students pay for a college education. The grant was originally called the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, but was renamed in honor of U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell. How does such a plan work and how easy is it for a student to be awarded this grant?

The Origin of the Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is sponsored by the United States Department of Education. The Pell Loan/Grant is not a full grant, but the foundation of a full package, to which other loans and grants can be added. The U.S. Department of Education evaluates each application submitted and uses a standard formula to evaluate an applicant’s situation. In terms of qualification, only students who have not already earned a Bachelor's Degree can qualify for this grant.
As with the traditional meaning of the word “grant”, the Pell award does not have to be paid back. It is not a loan but a gift to students serious about pursuing higher education. There are over 5,000 educational institutions that will accept a Pell Grant. On average, five and a half million students get help from the government to fund their education. The grant can also be used for graduate school courses!

What are the Requirements for a Pell Grant?

Students must show financial need in order to qualify for the loan, and if he/she is a dependent, then the student’s parents will provide further information. In order to start the process the student must apply for a “Free Application for Federal Student Aid.” You can do this by requesting a form from the U.S. Department of Education via telephone or postal mail. You must also request the accurate year for the Pell Grant. In addition; you can contact the financial aid office of the postsecondary school of your choice to see if they can provide you with a form (as well as a school code). This may be advantageous, especially if you need help completing the form. Some high schools and local libraries also have information on a Pell Grant.
What are the main requirements for qualifying for a Pell Grant? Income levels are one of the most important factors. In fact, if your EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) is too high, the grant could very well be denied.
Make Plans to Look Into the Pell Grant Right Now!
Even if you do not qualify for the Pell Grant, do not hesitate to reach out and look into other means of financial support. There are other payable and non-repayable options out there to promising students who want to achieve greater things. However, if you have not tried to apply for a Free Application for Federal Student Aid then by all means, make an effort. You never know when the government is at liberty to help you with an educational grant.
This non-payable grant can be accessed at the following location:
(By Phone) 1-800-4-FED-AID or write to
(By Mail) Federal Student Aid Information Center, PO Box 84, Washington, D.C. 20044.
(Online) www.fafsa.ed.gov
What is the Latest News on the Pell Grant
Are you looking for new information on the Pell Grant? Let’s start by restating what the Pell Grant is and what the minimum requirements are. This grant, based on the original Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, was originally named in honor of U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell. Today, it is a grant that can help students to start a college education, even if they do not have the money to enroll.
Understanding the Pell Grant
It is important to note that the Pell Grant, sponsored by the United States Department of Education, is only given to students in need. This grant is not a complete scholarship, but a foundation that can be worked with. The maximum opening grant is only $5,500 per school year, though students can reapply for grants, and obviously, seek out more sources of income.
Qualifying students have to be in the low-to-middle income range, though there are actually many factors that go into deciding whether a grant is approved. For example, the government considers your location, your state laws, your income tax status, and all sorts of other variables that influence their final decision. The good news is that there are over 5,000 schools that accept such a grant, and that it doesn’t have to be repaid. Five million students per year take advantage of this option! You can get started by applying for a “Free Application for Federal Student Aid”, and by making contact with either the U.S. Department of Education or a local school or library.

What’s the Latest on the Pell Grant?

A lot of information you see on the Pell Grant is for the 2000 era, and perhaps before.
You may wonder how the recession has changed the way things work, and if any changes have been reported since 2008. As a matter of fact, things have changed as recently as the year 2011. Now, more questions are skipped on the form, and there is no mention of minimum enrollment hours. For that matter, a higher income level is allowed. There are also some technical changes, mostly involving dates and procedures that schools must abide by.
The Pell Grant Program was directly tied in with the Recovery Act for 2011-2012. Of course, even with more money put into education and financial aid, the number of students requiring financial aid is drastically increasing, and hardly matches what has been provided. The Pell Grant program (and others like it) continue to be the subject of debate, as there is always talk of decreased funding and “Continuing Resolution.”
The most recent action reported was a $5.7 billion cut to the Pell Grant program, and the changes in effect would count for the upcoming 2011-12 school year. The cuts were mainly in total aid provided, as well as new requirements that would cut almost two million students from being eligible. However, as of this writing the cuts have not been approved. Education is one of the few things Democrats and Republicans agree on!
So don’t be afraid to reach out and look into the Pell Grant, a government provided option, a program thst stresses the importance of opportunity and education.

How Can You Qualify for a Pell Grant?

You may have heard of the Pell Grant, but may still be in the dark as to what it is and what the qualifications are for this government-sponsored award. The Pell Loan or Grant is an educational award offered by the United States Department of Education. The grant amount is not enough to pay for a complete college course; rather, it is the economic foundation for a full education, and one that can be built onto from other income sources.

The Pell Grant Process

To begin the Pell Grant process, you must request a form called a Free Application for Federal Student Aid with the right year. In terms of qualifications, you must require financial aid, and you must not have already earned a Bachelor's Degree. The question on most people’s minds is: what are the income level requirements? There are not actually any black and while rules when it comes eligibility. Total income is a factor, but there are many other issues at play.
For example, the government might also consider your income tax, the state you live (and any applicable laws), the employment status of both your parents, your checking and savings accounts, the age of your parents, the number of family members who went to college and the number of people in your household. There have been some cases in which poorer families were denied a Pell Grant and middle class were given a grant, due to various economic circumstances. The point is, a lot of these decisions are left up to individuals working within the United States Department of Education, therefore you never know what factors could work in your favor until you try to apply.

What Resources Do You Have for a Pell Grant?

For starters, you can find Pell Grant information at your local library and in some cases, your high school. If there is a specific college you want to get into (or a graduate school), you can ask for assistance at the school itself; this is of benefit to you if you are unsure of how to fill the form out or have income questions. You can also contact the school online (www.fafsa.ed.gov) or through a postal address (Federal Student Aid Information Center, PO Box 84, Washington, D.C. 20044).
The Pell Grant never has to be paid back and it is given to almost 5.4 million students every year. It is believed that there are over 5,000 institutions that will accept the Pell Grant. It is estimated that 57% of grant recipients have an income level of less than $20,000. However, families with an income of up to $40,000 can also be approved. In general, students can receive as much as $5,550 a year, which will be split to cover the semester.
Therefore, this is not a full grant but one that can be added to over a period of time. If you do earn the Pell Grant, you can reapply again, though you should know that the
Pell Grant is good for one entire school year. Naturally, if you are refused a grant the first time, you can reapply again. Persistence pays off, so never give up your dreams of going to college!
Jordan Von Seht